Vacation Friends

Name: Vacation Friends
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Released: August 27, 2021
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Andrew Bachelor, Anna Maria Horsford, Barry Rothbart, Carlos Santos, Chris TC Edge

2021

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Ratings

See All

5.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.7	Your Score
5.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Vacation Friends (Australia Trailer 1)

Now Playing: Vacation Friends (Australia Trailer 1)

Movie Details & Credits

Hulu | Release Date (Streaming): August 27, 2021 | R

Starring: Andrew Bachelor, Anna Maria Horsford, Barry Rothbart, Carlos Santos, Chris TC Edge, Chuck Cooper, Jaclyn White, John Cena, Julitza Berberena, Kamal Angelo Bolden, LilRel Howery, Lynn Whitfield, Meredith Hagner, Robert Wisdom, Tawny Newsome, Travis Love, Yvonne Orji

Summary: Straight-laced Marcus and Emily (Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji) are befriended by wild, thrill-seeking partiers Ron and Kyla (John Cena, Meredith Hagner) at a resort in Mexico. Living in the moment, the usually level-headed couple lets loose to enjoy a week of uninhibited fun and debauchery with their new “vacation friends.” Months afterStraight-laced Marcus and Emily (Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji) are befriended by wild, thrill-seeking partiers Ron and Kyla (John Cena, Meredith Hagner) at a resort in Mexico. Living in the moment, the usually level-headed couple lets loose to enjoy a week of uninhibited fun and debauchery with their new “vacation friends.” Months after their walk on the wild side, Marcus and Emily are horrified when Ron and Kyla show up uninvited at their wedding, creating chaos and proving that what happens on vacation, doesn’t necessarily stay on vacation.
… Expand

Director: Clay Tarver

Genre(s): Adventure, Comedy, Family

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Vince Mancini

Sep 8, 2021

Vacation Friends isn’t exactly groundbreaking or revolutionary in its comedy — it does have a few stock situations and characters (the extended stylized drug scene, the disapproving father played by Bunny Colvin) — and one could argue that it doesn’t have much in the way of nutritional value. Yet it allows us to enjoy empty calories in a way not many movies of its ilk do, offering just enough to elevate the genre. Read full review

Lovia Gyarkye

Aug 27, 2021

Vacation Friends is a droll and mildly salacious flick that revels in subverting the expectations of its central characters and, eventually, its viewers. Read full review

Brandon Katz

Aug 31, 2021

Sure, it’s a silly R-rated raunchy comedy in which we get both testicle and poop jokes (classic). But it’s proudly open hearted and a funny, if absurd, champion of friendship. Read full review

Johnny Oleksinski

Aug 31, 2021

The talented quartet saves the movie, but making it great would take a rewrite. Read full review

The Guardian Benjamin Lee

Aug 27, 2021

The base ingredients are here – a charming, comically adept cast, a fun culture clash set-up, idyllic scenery! – but they’re carelessly tossed together rather than combined with any thought, care or even slickness. Read full review

Chandler Levack

Aug 27, 2021

Vacation Friends could’ve been the fun, lackadaisical resort comedy it wants to be. Our ensemble has considerable chemistry and are all charismatic performers in their own right. It’s fun to watch Cena in goading jock mode, until Howery jumps off a cliff with his glasses still on. Unfortunately, Tarver’s film soon veers hard on its cinematic jet skis, and falls flat on its face. Read full review

Martin Carr

Aug 24, 2021

This culture clash comedy is a car crash only John Cena survives. Read full review

SEE ALL 16 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Habibiehakim

Aug 30, 2021

Vacation Friends was a very pleasant surprise, the movie was entertaining, extremely funny, and very very enjoyable to watch, they might not have a top A list of acting, but they still do a really good job, the way they delivers the comedy is perfect, it just so hilariously funny, overallVacation Friends was a very pleasant surprise, the movie was entertaining, extremely funny, and very very enjoyable to watch, they might not have a top A list of acting, but they still do a really good job, the way they delivers the comedy is perfect, it just so hilariously funny, overall Vacation Friends is a very good time.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Stream2BigScree

Sep 2, 2021

Last weekend, Hulu released an original comedy, Vacation Friends, starring John Cena, Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji and Meredith Hagner. It is the story of a straight-laced couple on a vacation in Mexico that meets an uninhibited pair who takes the former on a wild ride. At vacation's end,Last weekend, Hulu released an original comedy, Vacation Friends, starring John Cena, Lil Rel Howery, Yvonne Orji and Meredith Hagner. It is the story of a straight-laced couple on a vacation in Mexico that meets an uninhibited pair who takes the former on a wild ride. At vacation's end, much to the the dismay and trepidation of the straight-laced couple their new friendship did not stay in Mexico. Essentially, like an odd-couple romantic comedy, you know how these mismatched pairs will come together in the end. The real joy about Vacation Friends has to be how we get to where we know we are going.

Lil Rel and Yvonne Orji play the couple, Marcus and Emily. Marcus is an by-the-book, owner of a construction company who has meticulously planned a Mexican getaway all for the purposes of proposing to Emily. Of course, his plans go wrong - what do you expect? Emily's most distinctive characteristic is that her upper class father does not approve of Marcus. Because of the necessary plot devices, Emily and Marcus encounter Ron and Kyla, played by John Cena and Meredith Hagner, who are reckless in every way possible. Emily and Marcus and Ron and Kyla would never be friends or even meet in real life, but on vacation with inhibitions gone, they bond and get into some crazy hijinks. I'll say Lil Rel, Yvonne, Meredith and Cena give their all to these characters. Meredith Hagner is a standout on her regular TV gig, "Search Party", and she likewise goes for broke here. John Cena is at his daffy, comedic best. It's all manic and scenery-chewing, but it works for this kind of comedy. While Cena and Hagner get the more outlandish characters, Lil Rel and Yvonne get to have nice chemistry and attempt to ground the film in some realness. If you enjoy these performances and the ensemble as a whole, then you should have no problem chuckling through this fast-paced comedy.

Well, Vacation Friends is a quick comedy that leans heavily on a well-worn plot. Since we know the plot, the film has to stand on the performances of it's cast; and they come through in spades. Vacation Friends is an easy watch that is fun to catch on these waning summer evening. Grab your box of popcorn and stream to your heart's content.

S2S: I just want to add to this review. I haven't wanted to re-watch a comedy in a few years. I absolutely can re-watch this movie and actually want to. That's saying a lot. The movie isn't perfect and in fact kind of annoying at parts but it just so enjoyable, crazy and funny. Definitely a big box of fresh popcorn.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Ralfbergs

Dec 19, 2021

I liked it but the movie did use many cliche concepts. I mean not much new in it. It was fun and enjoyable to watch but nothing special.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kpaul

Aug 27, 2021

The story is the same fish out of water comedy plot we've seen 100 times. But the actor's chemistry, charisma, and pure joy of being able to over-actor in this over-the-top comedy makes this more charming than funny.

The filmmakers continually ask us to stretch our suspension of disbeliefThe story is the same fish out of water comedy plot we've seen 100 times. But the actor's chemistry, charisma, and pure joy of being able to over-actor in this over-the-top comedy makes this more charming than funny.

The filmmakers continually ask us to stretch our suspension of disbelief beyond the point that we can't believe a person would make any of these unrealistic choices. Regardless, our actors hold the movie together enough to make this movie a watch for a boring night in.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MetacriticOnur

Aug 28, 2021

bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Sep 16, 2021

It'll work, yes, but that will depend on how much you're willing to dumb yourself down.

It's foolish to the point of obnoxiousness, and believe it or not, it feels outdated. It feels like a lost comedy from the 2000's, that was canned and then the world forgot about it. Maybe this is how itIt'll work, yes, but that will depend on how much you're willing to dumb yourself down.

It's foolish to the point of obnoxiousness, and believe it or not, it feels outdated.
It feels like a lost comedy from the 2000's, that was canned and then the world forgot about it.
Maybe this is how it should have remained.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS